short balls: anne tweets from memphis

Tweet Me A Tune, Oh Annie:Anne Keothavong is returning to the WTA after a long layoff due to injury, and she’s creating quite the storm in Memphis, Tenn. of all places. The current British No. 3 had been as high as number 48 in the world last year before being knocked off track, but she opened her Midwest campaign with a straight-set win over German Kristina Barrois and now takes on the always-noisy Michelle Larcher de Brito. For a small tournament, the draw is seeping with intrigue, if not top-quality talent.

Keothavong added to that intrigue yesterday when she Tweeted on her account: “A certain tennis player is so rude, it’s embarrassing. There’s only so much you can do to be nice before you don’t bother. Strange stuff”. She followed that up by saying: “Not naming names but it’s not your obvious choice”.

Who could Keothavong be making a racket about? Maria Sharapovais in Memphis, a player who has often been at odds with her peers. Check out the Memphis draw and see who you think it might be. We only can guess along with you!

The Southern Belle: American darling Melanie Oudin is also in action at the Cellular South Cup after her eyebrow-raising performance in Fed Cup and a scintillating week in Paris last week. Oudin will have the chance to continue her surge in April, when the U.S. team hosts Russia for Round 2 of the Fed Cup in Birmingham, Alabama. The site, which was picked earlier this week, is just a two-hour drive from Oudin’s hometown of Marietta, Georgia.

While captain Mary Joe Fernandez called Birmingham’s love for tennis “rampant”, the choice seemed a bit odd of the USTA, seeing as Birmingham was the same city to host the Davis Cup tie between the U.S. and Switzerland last April.

Andy’s Atlantic: Speaking of Americans, Andy Roddickwon’t be anywhere near Alabama in April. Instead, the No. 1 American man will take part in an exhibition that features Mats Wilander, Ivan Lendl and Marat Safin. It seems as though Safin is playing more post-retirement than he ever did on the tour. Good money, those exhibitions… and he still can lose his first match.

SweetStruggling Caroline: It hasn’t been a friendly 2010 for U.S. Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki, who bowed out in her first match in Dubai to a spirited Shahar Peer. Peer’s denial to play in Dubai rocked tennis’s political realms last year, but the Israeli is determined to make her trip this time all about her tennis. Barry Flatman has a great piece in the The Times‘ website.

Give the Gift of (Stereotyped) Gays: Gawker.com has an entertaining – if not limiting – “Guide to All Gay Men” written by Brian Moylan. In Moylan’s interpretation, all gay men are bottoms and Serena Williams didn’t make any type’s “Diva” list. Shame shame.

Them’s Fightin’ Words: In Vancouver, where tennis courts of ice would be of season, Evgeni Plushenkois going all Johnny Weir on Evan Lysacek after the short program of the men’s figure skating competition. Talk about diva! Our fave Johnny is in a respectable sixth heading into Thursday’s long program, within striking distance of a medal.

Hmm, I am thinking it might be Oudin as well. She did use her new found position as head honcho of Fed Cup action to call out Venus and Serena for not playing Fed Cup. Clearly, she thinks because she is the media darling, she is also the fans’ darling. Someone needs to tell her that sweetheart you have to start winning tournaments and Grand Slams first before you become a fan favourite. By the time you see her name in the draw she is gone.